was leaving for the afternoon, not for good. Though, I knew when I called, they would be thrilled, probably move me into the palace themselves. Uncle Fredrick almost threw me a parade, the whole family over the moon that Theo and I were back together. More accurately, that I was dating the Prince of Great Victoria.
Prestige, money, title. The ultimate catch to help us gain back respect.
“Sorry. Not the point,” he exhaled. “Again.”
“Bloody hell, Theo, you are just crashing and burning here.” Eloise leaned against the sofa, trying to hide her grin.
“Not. Helping,” he barked at her.
“If I agree to this? Two conditions.” I ran my hand through my styled hair, no longer caring how long it took Nara to do. “One. I will have my own flat.”
“What?”
“I can’t live here, Theo.” I motioned around. “Like this isn’t going to be enough pressure on me. But to live here? I could never relax. I can’t…”
“Fine.” He nodded, pulling his arms over his chest. “I’ll ask Chloe if we can work that out. What’s the second?”
“Don’t ever, ever ambush me again.” I pointed his chest. “I’m scrambling as it is right now. I will not be treated like a doll, moved around and dressed without my say. I will not be a fool.”
“All right.” He flinched, his neck bobbing again. “Again, I am so sorry.”
I stepped up to him, wrapping my arms around his waist. “Just don’t forget… we’re in this together. A team. You and me. Don’t forget… me.”
He grinned down, his palms cupping my face, his mouth grazing mine. “Never.”
“All right.” Eloise threw out her hands. “I don’t want to watch my brother make out with his girlfriend.”
“Like I haven’t been subjected to seeing you with all your boy toys, their tongue down your throat?”
Boy toys? Holy crap, how good was the PR firm here? Eloise came across as a saint. The press only caught her having coffee with one boy off campus, and they did nothing more than drink coffee. The gossip mill went around for weeks trying to figure out who he was.
“So, can we have some fun now?” Eloise’s mouth curved up like the Cheshire cat. “The queen and king are out all evening, and when the lions are out, the cubs can play. You up for it, Spencer?”
“I think so?” I responded skeptically, watching Theo shake his head in the negative.
“Please, Theo. She’s not that fragile.” Eloise rolled her eyes, grabbing my arm again, walking us to the door. “I’ve never seen anyone put my brother in his place like that. I think you and I are going to be great friends.” Her heels clicked on the stone, and the guards, somehow knowing she was exiting, opened the doors for us, and we seamlessly flowed into the corridor, turning farther into the palace. “However, this pink-pee dress has got to go.”
“Should I ask where we are going?”
Her expression filled with pure wickedness. “Now what would be the fun in that?”
The purposefully torn jeans were practically painted on my body, and they dug into my hips, my spiked heel booties clicking on the metal stairs as we descended into the dark club.
None of the outfits the queen had filled my closet with met Eloise’s approval. They were beautiful, the finest quality, but were very classy dresses, looking more ready for a garden party than a nightclub. Eloise promised she and I would go shopping later to find me more “going out” clothes. Until then, I was stuffing my slightly curvier frame into her outfits. Dressing me in skintight jeans with strategically placed rips down the legs, a silky black backless tank, jewelry, perfect smoky eyes, the heeled boots I wobbled on, with my hair in waves down my back, I finally passed her evaluation.
I knew I looked good, probably better than I ever had, but still, it was hard to stand next to Eloise. She was so beautiful it was hard not to cry a little inside. She was decked out in tight leather pants, a sheer red top over a jeweled bra, metal spiked heels, her hair straight and sleek. Her makeup was club perfection, making her green eyes pop.
“Wow. Hot.” Theo’s eyes widened when we stepped out, his gaze running over my body. Of course, he only had to change into a pair of jeans and a T-shirt to look hot. “You look so sexy.”
“Thank you.” I grinned, taking his hand as he led me into the car already filled with several people. A